Chapter 15: Divorce this pretty boy.
"You mean you're going to live alone in this dilapidated wooden hut?"
Shen Jizhao gritted his teeth and looked at the extremely simple thatched hut in front of him, which had hardly any tiles or bricks, and shook his body in disbelief.
“Husband, we’ve pawned all our valuables to pay off the inn’s debt. We only have enough money to rent this place. This wooden house looks a bit simple, but it’s sure to be complete even though it’s small. Let’s go inside.”
Shen Jizhao simply couldn't bring himself to move. He had never even seen a house like this before, let alone lived in it. It wasn't even as big as the place where the palace servants lived.
At this moment, an old woman dressed in coarse cloth munched on a steamed bun and scoffed, "If you don't like it, then don't live here. You're all relying on women now, and you're still being picky, you pretty boy."
The old woman was the owner of this wooden house. She had taken pity on the young woman, who was homeless and alone, and offered her a cheap place to stay. She never expected that the young woman would have a man.
The young woman has been searching for a house for so long, but her man has never shown up once. What else could he be but a gigolo?
Shen Jizhao had never been insulted so rudely before. The veins on his hands bulged, and he was about to confront her.
Jiang Shuifu immediately pulled him inside, while apologizing to the old lady several times, asking her not to send them away.
As soon as Shen Jizhao entered the room, he closed his eyes, hardly believing the scene before him. There was only a wooden table, two wooden stools, and a couch in the room.
There was nothing else, and there were spider webs everywhere.
Jiang Shuifu wiped the wooden stool, helped him sit down, and spoke to him in a wronged tone:
“Husband, this house is the best deal I’ve found. If we get kicked out, we’ll really have to sleep on the streets.”
He remained silent and stopped complaining; it was already a great achievement that she had found someone.
She began to tidy up, sweeping, mopping, and wiping, while he returned to his indifferent state, closing his eyes to contemplate the situation.
As he pondered, he smelled a delicious aroma—the aroma of hot, steaming rice.
He also smelled the aroma of dog meat, which was considered low-class meat in the palace, but he was indeed hungry now.
"Don't bother, let's eat together."
He opened his eyes, gracefully rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to eat.
Two bowls of rice, a plate of stir-fried loofah with eggs, a bowl of stir-fried white lotus seeds, and a bowl of soup.
Without seeing a single piece of meat, he casually gave the order:
"The dishes aren't all served yet, hurry up and serve them, we won't waste any more today."
Jiang Shuifu looked at him in confusion, "It's all served, husband, please eat. This chicken soup was specially made for you."
Shen Jizhao's eyes widened. It really had been a long time; the chicken had practically melted from the heat.
She explained, somewhat embarrassed:
"Husband, this chicken is a bit small, but it still has meat. You'll get better soon after you eat it."
She gave him most of the meat from the chicken soup.
Shen Jizhao found it hard to swallow. He considered chicken even lower than dog, and this chicken hadn't undergone any proper preparation before being served to him. Unable to bring himself to eat it, he switched the bowl of rice with hers.
"You eat it."
Jiang Shuifu thought he was concerned about her, so of course she couldn't refuse his kindness and happily finished the whole bowl of rice.
Shen Jizhao kept his word this time and finished all the food. This was not only due to her good cooking skills, but also because the dog meat at the old woman's house outside smelled delicious.
He swallowed meat for the first time while enjoying the aroma of someone else's meat.
After finishing his meal, he lay down on the couch and picked up the books she had bought for him during the day to read. With no official business to attend to, he could only pass the time by reading.
Jiang Shuifu was boiling water in the kitchen outside when her aunt, a rural woman, happened to be there too. She was always a bit harsh with her words.
"Young lady, are you settling in well? Is your husband a cripple? He looks good, but his health is terrible."
Jiang Shuifu explained the reason to her, but the old woman didn't believe her:
"He doesn't wash the dishes or boil water at home. What's wrong with your husband? He's no good, but you're suffering. Why don't you divorce him!"
Shen Jizhao, lying on the couch, slammed the book shut. The room was not soundproof at all, and all sorts of nonsense poured into his ears.
She dares to divorce him? That's outrageous! Where are the rules? Where is the law? He's not some gigolo who married into the family; what right does she have?
He was so angry that he limped off the bed and walked toward the gossiping woman.
"Jiang Shuifu!"
Jiang Shuifu was covering the old woman's mouth, afraid that Shen Jizhao would hear her, but it was too late. She heard his voice. His voice was not cold as usual, but unusually high-pitched.
She turned around and saw his eyebrows slightly raised, his lips drooping, his chest heaving, and his breathing unsteady.
His demeanor was very grounded. Although he was still high above, he was no longer a floating deity, indifferent and uncaring, with a cold and aloof expression.
You can tell he's angry at a glance.
She was somewhat stunned, ignoring his gaze that urged her to help him up.
Shen Jizhao gave her many glances, but she still didn't see them. He couldn't stand any longer and his back bent over.
He sensed a mocking, disdainful look from the old woman, so he straightened up and had no choice but to speak:
"Come help me up."
Jiang Shuifu then noticed his situation, dropped the firewood she was holding, and ran over.
When she helped him to the kitchen, the old woman glanced at him and said, "Oh, he's a pampered cripple!"
Shen Jizhao glanced at her, but the old woman was not intimidated at all. She spat out a hardened cornbread, which landed right at his feet.
Jiang Shuifu stood silently between the two.
The old lady was very kind; she would speak up for any neighbors she didn't agree to.
"You've come at the right time. The young lady can't carry water, and you've been sleeping, eating, and drinking her things. Come and do some work."
Shen Jizhao must have heard correctly. His brows furrowed in disbelief. This old woman actually dared to order him around!
When has he ever done such rough work before?
Jiang Shuifu glanced at his refined and gentle appearance; she couldn't imagine him doing rough work.
But the old woman was right; she couldn't lift it. Things from the common people were rough and clumsy, yet large in capacity. She put on a pitiful yet encouraging look and asked him:
"Husband, are you sure you can do it?"
When it comes to a man's dignity, Shen Jizhao has never said no.
So, a noble prince who had been waited on hand and foot since childhood has now washed his hands and done rough work.
After he finished, the noble ideas of feudal tradition still made him somewhat unhappy.
*
Finally, she could take a bath. Jiang Shuifu quickly took off her top, leaving only a small undershirt underneath. She moved her hand to her waist, preparing to pull down her skirt.
Suddenly, a disapproving voice rang out: "Have you forgotten there's a living person here?"
Not far away, Shen Jizhao looked at her fair and smooth shoulders and graceful back and called her to a stop.
Jiang Shuifu suddenly realized that there was only one room, and that she and he had been bathing and sleeping at the same time. She blushed.
"Husband, just don't look."
There's no other way; this is the only place around, and I can't just keep going without taking a shower.
She continued to untie her skirt, then slipped into the water, removed the last piece of ribbon covering her neck, and sank down.
The reason she undressed so freely was because Shen Jizhao wasn't that kind of person; he wouldn't peek, nor did he want to.
They had been married for three years, but apart from their wedding and the two times they had traditional Chinese medicine treatments, he had never touched her. His interest lay elsewhere.
Shen Jizhao didn't even look at her; he got off the bed and walked towards her.
It was only a short walk to begin with, and in no time he reached her wooden tub.
Jiang Shuifu was enjoying her bath and was about to grab the cloth from the edge of the tub to scrub her body when, unexpectedly, she touched a hand instead of a cloth.
The veins on his hand were prominent, and the bones were clearly visible. She could feel the tension in his fingers and the tautness of his flesh, both strange and familiar.
She took a deep breath and spoke cautiously:
"Husband...husband?"
The man responded with a violent tearing motion. She was both shocked and ashamed. She was shocked by his unexpected action, and ashamed because she remembered how he always liked to tear her clothes during their intimate moments.
Does he want to...?
"My lord, I, I, let me prepare."
She shyly expressed her feelings; this was the first time he had taken the initiative to contact her, and she couldn't refuse him out of either emotion or reason.
But the scenes from last time were still replaying in her mind, and her pain seemed to resurface clearly.
He was too ruthless; she was actually afraid of him.
But after waiting for a long time, she didn't see the next step. Her eyes, still wet with tears, turned around and saw that her view was blocked. She could see that there were several layers of cloth between the bed and the wooden tub.
He tore her dress into several pieces, tied them together with a rope to make a makeshift curtain, which served as a screen.
Her face turned even redder; she was embarrassed by her own presumption.
After washing, she suddenly realized she had no clothes to wear; her undershirt was wet, and she was naked. She complained to him:
"Husband, you tore my dress, what am I supposed to wear?"
Oh no, I forgot about that! They've arrived empty-handed and haven't had time to buy any changes of clothes. What should we do?
After a moment, he had mentally prepared himself, convinced himself many times, and thoroughly analyzed the pros and cons before handing her one of his undergarments.
"Put it on, I'm going to sleep."
Jiang Shuifu unexpectedly received a garment to cover her body, which still carried his moon-like fragrance and body heat.
She put it on, took the ointment, and walked towards him.
"Husband, I'm here to change your dressing."
This is what they just agreed upon.
At this moment, the man on the couch was wrapped in his only outer robe, closing his eyes to rest and relax. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep. This moment of tranquility suited him perfectly.
Suddenly, his blanket was pulled back, and his years of experience forced him to grab the thief's arm directly, instantly subduing the thief and pinning him to the bed.
"My husband, it's me."
Jiang Shuifu knew that his paranoia had struck again; the last time he choked her neck, it was for the same reason.
Shen Jizhao regained his senses for a second, then doubted whether he was hallucinating. This woman had actually run out with bare legs!
His undergarment could only cover her buttocks, and her two slender, delicate legs below were completely white. He quickly looked away.
She wriggled in his hands, begging him to let her go, but his gaze was drawn to her slender waist and high breasts, which were revealed by this position.
Swaying and wobbling.
I can't watch anymore.
"sleep."
He quickly extinguished the candle, covered himself with the blanket, and closed his eyes.
Soon after, he opened his eyes again. This woman, not only did she not wear a bottom, but she didn't wear anything underneath either!
A note from the author:
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Keep working tomorrow, hahaha, you jerk! If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll really think you're invincible.
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